Boko Haram Leader, Shekau, is dead

 Major General Lucky Irabor,

The Commander,  Major General Lucky Irabor, of Operation Lafiya Dole, the military wing dealing with the Boko Haram insugency has said that the leader of the group, Abubakar Shekau, is dead. 

Speaking during a tour of Adamawa state on Thursday, September 1, Major General Irabor insisted that Shekau is dead according to the Vanguard reporter on hand. He said that the individual originally identified as Shekau has indeed been killed.

AfDB to support young 'agripreneurs'

Akinwunmi Adeshina

A former Minister of Agriculture in the previous Nigerian government and now the President, Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Mr. Akinwumi Adeshina, has said the bank has earmarked $12.5billon for the training of the next generation of agriculture entrepreneurs (Agripreneurs), in Nigeria and 24 other African countries before 2025.

Nig/UK sign MoU on return of loots

Abubakar Malami,  Minister for Justice

The pursuit to have funds looted from the public coffers in Nigeria by public officers received a massive boost by an agreement between Nigeria and Britain to have such funds returned. Public officials who still look to Britain to hide their illicit wealth will need a rethink to examine if the irresponsible actions are worth any while.

According to the Nation, Britain will

Pencom to invest N2.3 trillion

Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, D-G, Nig. Pension Commission

Following worldwide practices on investing from the volume of pension funds, the National PensionCommission (PENCOM) said on Tuesday it planned to deploy at least 40 per cent of the total pension funds in the country (about N2.32 trillion) into investments in infrastructure development by 2019.

Total pension assets in Nigeria ​stood at N5.8 trillion as at July 2016, ​and accounted for about 6 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The Director General of PENCOM, Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, said in Abuja this was part of the Commission’s five ​-​ year strategy to enhance inclusive growth and generate better value for contributors.

Mrs. Anohu-Amazu was represented at the 2016 conference for finance correspondents by the Head, Investment Supervision department of the Commission, Ehimeme Onuorah.

The DG, who noted the current huge infrastructure gap in the country across critical areas of the economy, said there was high correlation between the level of infrastructure development and level of economic growth and performance.

She attributed the large infrastructure deficit in key sectors of the economy to population growth, demographic changes and urbanization, which have increased the demand for infrastructure in the country.

“Infrastructure is a potential avenue for pension funds to reap higher and consistent returns on investment,” she said. “If adequate policies, structures and regulations are instituted, pension fund investments in infrastructure and real estate development, provide veritable avenues for portfolio diversification as well as properly match pension assets with their future liabilities.”

Although the federal government’s allocation in the 2016 to capital expenditure increased to 26.2 per cent, or about N1.59 trillion, she said the Federal Ministry of Finance annual infrastructure needs estimate was about N7.3 trillion.

The only way to attempt to bridge the gap, she said, was through the use of part of the pension funds to execute projects to add value to the quality of life of the people.

The regulation on investment of Pension Fund Assets by PENCOM, she explained, allowed for investment in alternative asset classes, including Infrastructure “bonds” and “funds”, private equity funds, real estate/housing development.

“Alternative Assets are the only investment class with guaranteed returns, which are consistently above inflation rates,” she explained. .

As part of the strategy, the PENCOM boss said a monetary funds investment structure was currently before the President for approval.

Once the approval was given, she said the micro pension department created to coordinate the pensions funds for the informal and private sectors to commence the use of the funds for investment development.

The Commission said it would collaborate with Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF)/Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) towards the implementation and execution of model projects in the country.

Under the arrangement, it said a financing structure and credit enhancements/guarantees (for Bonds) would be developed with the CBN, SWF and the Debt Management Office (DMO) for the execution of the projects.

Okorocha grants workers 2-work free paid days

His Excellency Gov. Okorocha of Imo state

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State has insisted that the three-day working policy crafted by the state government for civil servants in the state stands.

The confirmation came barely few days after the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state protested against the policy and other ills by the state government.

He also said that the cutting of the working days to three from five would have no interference with the workers’ salaries and allowances.

“I will not cut workers’ salaries because of the two days,“ he said.

Okorocha, while briefing journalists on Monday in Owerri after his overseas trip, stated that workers would go to work between Mondays and Wednesdays, leaving Thursdays and Fridays for agricultural activities.

He, however, noted that any worker that would not come to his or her duty post for any reason must get a written document (permission) from either the Head of Service or Chief of Staff (in the Government House) of the state.

Okorocha said, “Any worker, who is not found in his/her duty post without permission or exemption letter from the Head of Service or his counterpart will immediately lose his/her position to another  person from his or her community.”

The governor added that the civil servants working days were cut because they (workers) did not make judicious use of their official hours.

“Instead of being devoted to the work they are paid for, they use their official hours to loiter about; they sell groundnut, gala, chin-chin and sieve egusi, among others, in the office. I decided to reduce the working days because I want to enhance agriculture in the state.”

 There is nothing that is cultivated or produced in the state. All the things we eat like tomato, pepper, cucumber, groundnut and others things are produced in the North. Think of a situation where the northerners decide to stop supplying us with these edibles, what happens?”

In strong terms, he maintained that the state government had paid all salaries of workers in the state, up to August, 2016. On the part of pensioners, he promised that they would soon receive all arrears of their pension.

Okorocha said that over 3000 fresh computer literate graduates would soon be employed  in the civil  service to develop the economy.

He regretted that over 95 per cent of Imo State workers were not computer literate and attributed their low productivity to it.

FG to negotiate kidnapped School girls release

Martha Mark, mother of kidnapped school Monica Mark with daughter's picture

The Federal Government yesterday has stated its consideration willingness to negotiate with the genuine leadership of the Boko Haram sect for the release of the school girls who were abducted from Government Secondary School Chibok, Borno State, in April 2014.

The government, however, said for the negotiation to take place, the insurgents, in the event that they do not feel comfortable to engage the government directly, can choose an internationally recognised non-governmental organisation (NGO) to discuss on its behalf, show proof that they are holding the girls and identify the prisoners in detention, which they want the government to release in exchange for the girls.

President Muhammadu Buhari, in an interview with journalists in Nairobi, Kenya, yesterday, said the Nigerian government was ready to dialogue with the genuine leaders of the terror group who can prove they have knowledge about the whereabouts of the girls.

‘‘What we said is that the government, which I preside over, is prepared to talk to bonafide leaders of Boko Haram. If they do not want to talk to us directly, let them pick an internationally recognised non-governmental organisation (NGO), convince them that they are holding the girls and that they want Nigeria to release a number of Boko Haram leaders in detention, which they are supposed to know.

‘‘If they do it through the ‘modified leadership’ of Boko Haram and they talk with an internationally recognised NGO, then Nigeria will be prepared to discuss their release,” the president said.

President Buhari, who spoke to the media on the side-lines of the sixth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD VI), warned that the federal government will not waste time and resources with “doubtful sources’’ who claim to know the whereabouts of the girls.

‘‘I have made a couple of comments on the Chibok girls and it seems to me that much of it has been politicised.

‘‘We want those girls out and safe. The faster we can recover them and hand them over to their parents, the better for us,’’ a statement by his senior special assistant, media, Garba Shehu, quoted the president to have said.

The president further maintained that the terror group, which pledged allegiance to ISIS, had been largely decimated by the Nigerian military with the support of immediate neighbours – Chad, Cameroon, Niger and Benin, even as he noted the split in the ranks of the terror group.

‘‘Some of the information about the division in Boko Haram is already in the press and I have read in the papers about the conflict in their leadership.

‘‘The person known in Nigeria as their leader, we understand, was edged out and the Nigerian members of Boko Haram started turning themselves to the Nigerian military.

‘‘We learnt that in an air strike by the Nigeria Air Force, he was wounded. Indeed their top hierarchy and lower cadre have a problem and we know this because when we came into power, they were holding 14 out of the 774 local governments in Nigeria. But now, they are not holding any territory and they have split to small groups attacking soft targets,” the president said.

On the militancy in the Niger Delta region, Buhari declared that while the federal government was also open to dialogue to resolve all contending issues in the area, it was at the moment, doubtful of the ceasefire declared by the militants.

‘‘We do not believe that they (the militants) have announced ceasefire. We are trying to understand them more. Who are their leaders and which areas do they operate and other relevant issues,’’ he said.

The president, however, warned that the Niger Delta militants must dialogue with the federal government or be dealt with in the same way as Boko Haram.

He also gave assurance to existing and prospective foreign investors that their investments in Nigeria would be fully secure and protected.

Speaking at a bilateral meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, President Buhari outlined several steps taken by his administration to secure the country and make doing business easy in Nigeria.

According to the statement by Shehu, Buhari told the Japanese leader that with the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists by the military, the attention of the administration was now focused on stopping the destruction of the country’s economic assets by militants in the Niger Delta region.

“We are talking to some of their leaders. We will deal with them as we dealt with Boko Haram if they refuse to talk to us.

“As a government, we know our responsibility, which is to secure the environment. It is clear to us that lenders won’t fund projects in insecure environments. We realise that we have to secure the country before we can efficiently manage it,” the president said.

President Buhari told the Japanese prime minister that security in the Gulf of Guinea, which is greatly affected by piracy and armed robbery at sea, was a priority for the Nigerian government.

‘‘We have provided funds to our Navy to buy new platforms, train and effectively organise the personnel to protect the area. We are looking forward to support from developed nations for satellite surveillance covering the Gulf,’’ he added.

Recalling his audience with G7 leaders in Germany, which was attended by the prime minister, Buhari thanked Japan for responding positively to the request by Nigeria for support in the rehabilitation of victims of the Boko Haram insurgency and the rebuilding of infrastructure in the North Eastern part of the country.

He, however, noted that there was still more to do on education, health and other infrastructure to ensure quick and voluntary return of displaced persons to their native communities.

On the United Nations Security Council reform, President Buhari agreed to work with Japan on the matter, stressing that the case for a permanent seat for Africa on the Council was a moral one.

He equally expressed Nigeria’s support for Japan in its bid for a UN resolution on the problems in East China and South China as well as the nuclear tests by North Korea.

‘‘The UN system is sufficient for the resolution of all disputes and no nation should be above the United Nations. This has to be made absolutely clear and I assure the prime minister that I will meet as many leaders as possible at the forthcoming UN General Assembly concerning the issues,” the president said.

In his remarks, Prime Minister Abe congratulated President Buhari for courageously tackling the Boko Haram insurgency.

He said Nigeria and Japan must work together to improve the investment climate in view of the many Japanese companies wishing to invest in Nigeria.

Abe reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to the rapid development of Nigeria through qualitative delivery of ongoing projects in the country, including Jebba hydro power scheme and the Lagos railway project.

culled from Leadership Newspapers

Kerry visits Buhari

US Secretary of State, John Kerry & President M. Buhari

The much awaited arrival of the US Secretary of State, John Kerry has come. The level of security apparatus put in place on his visit to the Presidential Villa, Abuja last Tuesday appeared to be more impressive  than those for visiting presidents from other countries.

Most times, security appeared to be relaxed and nothing extraordinary during visits by other countries’ Presidents to the Presidential Villa, Abuja as the place is perceived to be the most secured place in Nigeria.

Visiting security men, who accompany such visiting Presidents hardly have any business to do at the Aso Rock Villa prior to their principals’ visit.

Their first contact with the Villa on a particular visit is when they accompany their Presidents to the Villa for the visit proper.

Even though President Muhammadu Buhari did not come to the forecourt  to receive Kerry like he does with visiting Presidents, nothing was left to chance as far as security arrangement was concerned for Kerry, whose official functions in the US government are similar to those of a Minister of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria.

Security ground works for Kerry, who was a five time senator in the US before his current position, started in the State House Abuja about twenty four hours to his scheduled visit.

Some US plain clothed security personnel were spotted last week Monday carrying out their assignments at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

More security and US Embassy staff were also deployed to the State House Abuja before Kerry’s arrival on Tuesday.

While one US security personnel in mufti was seen standing at the middle of the forecourt communicating intermittently on his wireless gadget as the 2.55 p.m scheduled arrival time for Kerry approached, one of the US Embassy media man assisted in positioning the State House photographers and videographers by showing them where to stay to do their job as they awaited Kerry’s arrival.

At about 3.06 p.m., four black-coloured American specs, including Chevrolet and Ford made their way through the Service Chiefs Gate to the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Kerry did not alight from his vehicle for about two minutes when his car stopped, probably to allow his security men from other cars position themselves.

Kerry also appeared to be waiting in the vehicle for Villa’s State Chief of Protocol (SCOP), Kazaure Lawal, who received him on behalf of the President, to take position by his vehicle.

He had to bend his 1.93 meter body height in order not to hit his head against the car as he alighted.

Photographers and videographers, who had gathered at the forecourt immediately went to work as their cameras clicked away while Kerry was ushered to the main entrance of President Buhari’s office.

Apart from visiting journalists, only two television stations’ cameramen accredited to the State House and two State House official photographers were allowed to establish the bilateral meeting at the President’s office.

Kerry emerged from the main entrance to the President’s office after about two hours that he entered for the closed door meeting.

Security men at the Villa including the visiting ones immediately went into action by clearing the about 200 meters passage from the President’s office to the State House Press Waiting Room, where Kerry was planned to meet with some selected state governors from the Northern part of Nigeria.

To access the venue of the meeting with the governors, Kerry had to pass in front of the Council Chamber Press Gallery, where journalists covering the State House stay to do their jobs.

The journalists sometimes stand on the corridor in front of the Council Chamber Press Gallery to ambush and interview some high profile visitors coming out from the President’s office.

But last Tuesday was a different ball game as they were not allowed near the corridor when Kerry made his way from the President’s office to the venue of the meeting.

Some security men had to stand in front of the Council Chamber Press Gallery door to ensure no journalist disobey the instruction and venture to the corridor while Kerry moved to the venue of his second meeting in the Villa.

Again just like the first meeting, establishment of the meeting with the state governors was limited. Only seven State House cameramen and photographers were allowed to establish the meet.

While many visiting Presidents and other leaders hold joint press conferences with the Nigerian President at the end of such bilateral meetings at the Villa, there was no press conference with Kerry throughout his stay at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The visit, no doubt, showed that the Aso Rock actually received a special visitor from God’s own country.

It may also be very difficult to fault the security arrangement put in place for Kerry knowing the situation of the insurgency and militancy in some parts of Nigeria.

The US Embassy in Nigeria that has severally warned its citizens on movements to certain states in Nigeria won’t want to take any chances with Kerry’s life in any part of the country.

One of the news items that emerged from the closed door meeting between Buhari and Kerry last Tuesday was move to make the present anti-corruption war in Nigeria live beyond the current dispensation.

Buhari promised that the anti-corruption crusade will not only be deepened but institutionalized.

This is definitely a warning to all those secretly taking what do not belong to them to be ready for probe when his administration exits power.

All well-meaning Nigerians, no doubt, will be praying for the anti-corruption war to live beyond this government in order to ensure that the commonwealth of Nigeria continues to be utilized for the generality of Nigerians and not siphoned to private pockets of few individuals.

But to achieve this, there must be a real change in the behaviour of Nigerians at all levels.

Culled The Nation